Suspect in Gruesome Murder Staged as ‘Bear Attack’ Captured After Manhunt in South Carolina

A man accused of faking a bear attack to cover up a brutal murder has been captured in South Carolina after a nationwide hunt. 🌐 #News #ColumbiaSC #SouthCarolina #Crime

COLUMBIA, SC – A bizarre murder case involving a staged bear attack and a stolen identity reached a turning point on Sunday as authorities arrested the suspect in Columbia, South Carolina. Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, the man allegedly responsible for the murder of a Tennessee hiker, was apprehended after a vigilant citizen recognized him at a local hospital and alerted law enforcement, bringing a month-long manhunt to a close.

Arrest in South Carolina

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee confirmed that Hamlett was taken into custody in Columbia late Sunday night.

“After observing Hamlett at a local hospital, a good citizen alerted authorities and brought this manhunt to a peaceful end,” Sheriff Tommy Jones said in a statement.

A Twisted Crime Scene

The case began on Friday, Oct. 18, when Hamlett allegedly made a 911 call, introducing himself as Brandon Andrade. During the call, he claimed he’d fallen off a cliff while trying to escape a bear, explaining that he was injured.

When first responders arrived, however, they found a man dead at the scene, identified at the time by Andrade’s ID, which was found with the body.

Victim’s True Identity and the Stolen ID

Upon investigation, authorities identified the deceased as 34-year-old Steven Douglas Lloyd, not Brandon Andrade. Detectives discovered that the ID for Brandon Kristopher Andrade had been stolen and was “used on multiple occasions.”

The investigation soon linked the ID theft to Hamlett, who was also wanted in Alabama for violating parole.

Manhunt and Media’s Role

Once Hamlett was identified as the primary suspect, Tennessee authorities issued an arrest warrant on a first-degree murder charge, initiating a nationwide manhunt. Sheriff Jones extended gratitude to the public and the media for sharing Hamlett’s wanted poster.

“The sharing of Hamlett’s wanted poster led the public, whom is our most valuable resource, to act as our eyes and ears,” Jones said.

Thanks to a sharp-eyed citizen, a coordinated effort by law enforcement, and extensive media coverage, the search for Nicholas Wayne Hamlett has ended. What began as a chilling attempt to mask a homicide as an animal attack has now led to justice on the horizon.

RELATED TOPICS: Crime | South Carolina | Tennessee

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